Climate Related DC Public Hearing, Friday at 11:00 am

“At 11:00 am this Friday, July 14,the D.C. Council will hold a public hearing in Room 500 on climate policies and resolutions. RSVP now to help guide our leaders down the right track! Join us Friday, July 14, at 11:00 am at the Wilson Building.

At the hearing, D.C. residents (like you!) will have the opportunity to weigh in on a number of climate proposals and resolutions. The hearing will be hosted by the D.C. Committee on Transportation and the Environment, which is led by Councilmember Mary Cheh — a climate champion whose support is key for the success of the campaign. The roster of legislation under consideration at Councilmember Mary Cheh’s hearing could help move the ball forward for climate action. …Here is the full list of bills that will be given a hearing:

B22-257, the District of Columbia Green Finance Authority Act of 2017

PR22-261, the Sense of the Council Reaffirming the District’s Commitment to Climate Change Action Resolution of 2017

PR22-356, Sense of the Council Regarding the Paris Agreement on Climate Change Resolution of 2017.

3 thoughts on “Climate Related DC Public Hearing, Friday at 11:00 am”

The carbon fee proposal has been presented to GN and many questions remain unresolved. GN has not taken an position yet on this proposal.

As an active member of GN here is my evaluation:
While the goal of reducing carbon emissions is imperative and CCAN’s initiatives are highly appreciated, I find their carbon fee proposal as presently stands problematic for several reasons. At the very least a regional approach, at minimum including MD, should be implemented (note that a fee on gasoline is not included in the CCAN draft proposal), recognizing that over 70% of DC’s workforce commutes to DC and will not receive a rebate if the fee is only implemented in DC. Further, it is not clear if the rebate and 20% set aside to low-income programs will be sufficient to cover the costs to all in our low-income, working class community. Finally, I find this initiative has had insufficient outreach to this community, getting their input in drafting a bill. Without this outreach, we fear a repeat of the defeat of the 1987 bottle deposit initiative for similar reasons.

With regard to addressing the challenge of climate change/reducing greenhouse gas emissions, I submit that the priority focus now should be the implementation of the Save our System Coalition (WMATA) solutions (go to http://www.americansfortransit.org/save_our_system), creating DC Public Power thereby removing Exelon/Pepco/Washington Gas from the provision of utilities, and strengthening Solar for All to include mechanisms for social ownership and management. Raising fares and cutting service will discourage Metrorail and bus ridership, shifting reliance for commuting to cars, precisely the opposite to what is needed to reduce regional air pollution and its negative health impacts as well as carbon emissions which contribute to global warming. This approach is directly opposite to the self-declared objectives of the District government with regard to confronting the challenge of climate change.

When put on this website, I took out language noting any position by CCAN, and thus any position by GN, just saying that there is a hearing for folks if they want to get more information. But thanks for you take on this David.